Lila Lazarus ’84 — Distinguished Achievement Award
For Lila Lazarus, distinguished achievement is driven by a relentless passion for adventure and service.
“I chose K because the K-Plan spoke directly to the part of me always eager to explore the world and make a difference,” she says. “The idea that every quarter could be a new adventure was irresistible. I wanted a blank canvas, and K handed me the brushes.”
Lila “painted” a double major in political science and German and studied abroad in Germany. For her career service quarter, she participated in a world history competition in Israel. Her Senior Individualized Project was an internship with CBS News in Bonn, Germany. After K, she earned master’s degrees in political science (University of Massachusetts/University of Freiburg) and journalism (University of Michigan).
During her 39-year (and counting) career in journalism and health communication, Lila’s work has often been recognized for its passion and excellence. She received the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Michigan Chapter Silver Circle Award, which honors television professionals who have provided distinguished service to the industry for 25 years or more.
Lila began her career in journalism as a reporter for the Ann Arbor News. She went on to serve as a health reporter and news anchor in Traverse City, Flint, Baltimore, Boston and Detroit. She is the founder and owner of Lila Productions LLC, where she has written, produced, and hosted numerous award-winning television programs and commercials for the health and wellness industries—including Discover Remarkable: At the Heart of Medicine (which won multiple Emmy awards).
A lifelong adventurer and advocate for mind-body balance, Lila has swum the five-mile Straits of Mackinac, crossing from peninsula to peninsula, and annually hikes the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim and back again.
The word “distinguished” is equally apt in describing her philanthropic achievements. The Mackinac swim raised funds for Mentor Michigan, a nonprofit that supports organizations connecting mentors with young people. Her own K mentors included Joe Fugate, Hardy Fuchs, Don Flesche, Gail Griffin, Romeo Phillips, and J. Mark Thompson, among others. “Each of them left an indelible mark on my life,” says Lila.
She has also served on the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, been named Michigan’s Hero of Health, and is the current president of Kids Kicking Cancer. She devotes her time and expertise to Ladies Let’s Talk, the Michigan Animal Rescue League, Michigan Brain Injury Association, Race for the Cure, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Boys and Girls Club.